The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Following the order from the First Emperor, a large number of soldiers in Puyang County quickly took action, executed all the people around the meteorite, and then sent people to burn the meteorite.

The First Emperor stood on a high place in the palace, gazing into the distance, his eyes filled with anger and determination.

He knew in his heart that this mysterious meteorite seemed to foreshadow some kind of ominous sign, and these people were making trouble around the meteorite, which was undoubtedly a provocation to his rule.

"Your Majesty, the meteorite incident has been dealt with, but why are you still so angry?" Zhao Gao asked cautiously. He knew that the First Emperor was in a state of extreme emotional instability, and if he said the wrong thing, he could be killed.

The First Emperor turned abruptly, staring intently at Zhao Gao, and sternly declared, "How can I tolerate any challenge to my rule? These people actually dared to cause trouble around the meteorite. There must be some conspiracy!"

Zhao Gao quickly knelt, kowtowed, and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I will thoroughly investigate this matter and find the mastermind behind it. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will give you a satisfactory explanation."

The First Emperor took a deep breath, calmed himself down a bit, and then slowly said, "Zhao Gao, I order you to conduct a large-scale investigation across the country to find those who may pose a threat to me. I want them to know that challenging my authority will only lead to death!"

During the investigation, the historian of Fengchang Office would observe the stars in the sky every night.

One night, while gazing at the starry sky, he suddenly noticed something strange. The stars, which should have been stationary, seemed to be quietly moving and changing their positions. In particular, one of them, a red planet called Mars, was gradually approaching Antares.

A strong sense of unease welled up in the Taishi. As an official well-versed in astronomy and astrology, he understood that this phenomenon might indicate that some major event was about to occur. So, he decided to go to the palace in person to report this important discovery to the First Emperor.

"Your Majesty, I observed the celestial phenomena last night and discovered a worrying phenomenon. The sign of Mars guarding the heart has appeared, which is an ominous sign!" The historian knelt in front of the First Emperor, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground, his tone full of anxiety and worry.

Upon hearing this, the First Emperor's expression suddenly grew solemn. He knew all too well what Mars in the Heart signified—a calamity or misfortune for the Emperor. With a slightly trembling voice, he asked, "Taishi, do you have any ideas for averting this calamity? How should I respond to this crisis?"

After a moment's contemplation, the historian slowly raised his head and gazed resolutely at the First Emperor. He took a deep breath and replied solemnly, "Your Majesty, I am incompetent. The sign of Mars in the heart is beyond human control."

Seeing the First Emperor's expression becoming increasingly grim, Zhao Gao quickly stepped forward, bowed his head, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that if immortals truly exist, perhaps they could point the way for Your Majesty and provide some assistance."

The First Emperor remained silent, but a glimmer of hope shone in his eyes. He nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Zhao Gao's suggestion.

Seeing this, Zhao Gao immediately said, "Your Majesty, I will immediately arrange for someone to find the immortal. Please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

The First Emperor nodded, then waved his hand to signal Zhao Gao to leave.

Zhao Gao turned and left, and began to arrange the search for the immortal.

At the same time, the First Emperor also issued an order requiring officials across the country to speed up the construction of palaces and mausoleums to protect his own safety. These projects not only require huge manpower and material resources, but also require a long time investment.

However, for the First Emperor, all this was worth it, because only in this way could he feel at ease.

As time went by, the First Emperor's heart grew heavier. He often sat alone in his palace, silently pondering his future. Faced with the fear and anxiety of the unknown, he now placed his hopes on the appearance of an immortal to offer guidance and help.

However, in this era full of uncertainties, who can truly predict what will happen next? The First Emperor can only wait silently, hoping for a miracle to happen...

By the time Meng Yi led everyone back to Xianyang, it was already the end of November.

As soon as he returned to Xianyang, Meng Yi went straight to the palace to report to the First Emperor on the situation of his inspection tour in the eastern border.

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, the First Emperor sat on the dragon throne with a weary look on his face.

Meng Yi knelt respectfully below and recounted in detail what he had seen and heard along the way, as well as his inspections and evaluations of officials from various places.

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Yi secretly looked at the Emperor. He looked as exhausted as the setting sun, his complexion as gray as ashes, and his eyes revealed a hint of despair and helplessness. His body seemed unable to withstand any more pressure, and every movement seemed so difficult.

Meng Yi couldn't help but think to himself, "It seems the First Emperor, through his excessive use of elixirs, has become like a candle in the wind, his days numbered." He thought of the once awe-inspiring and invincible First Emperor, now so fragile and helpless. Time is merciless, and even power cannot stop the passage of life. Meng Yi felt a wave of sadness well up in his heart.

After listening to this, the First Emperor nodded slightly and signaled Meng Yi to continue.

"However, I encountered an assassination attempt in Dongjun." Meng Yi collected his thoughts and his tone became heavy. He looked up at the First Emperor, only to see that the First Emperor's face instantly became gloomy.

"Is this really true?" There was a hint of anger in the First Emperor's voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty. The assassins came with great force, and the guards led by me fought desperately and finally escaped. However, the guards of the Censorate suffered heavy casualties." There was a hint of grief in Meng Yi's voice.

The First Emperor slowly stood up and shouted angrily, "How dare you! How dare you assassinate right under my nose! Order a thorough investigation immediately. I want to see who is so audacious!"

Meng Yi quickly responded, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I will fully assist in the investigation and will not let any of the murderers go."

The First Emperor sat back on the dragon throne and stared at Meng Yi sharply. "Meng Yi, you've worked hard on this inspection of the eastern border. Go and hand over the work first."

"I obey your command." Meng Yi kowtowed again to express his gratitude.

Afterwards, Meng Yi slowly left the palace, leaving the First Emperor sitting alone in the palace.

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, as if carrying the fate of the entire empire.

The First Emperor sat quietly on the dragon throne, his eyes revealing deep worry and fatigue. The current situation had left him feeling exhausted. First, there was the inscription on the meteorite, then the firefly guarding the heart, and now the assassination attempt by the man in black. This series of events was like a heavy mountain, weighing down on him, making it almost impossible to breathe.

The First Emperor couldn't help but recall his past glory, when he had united the six kingdoms and established a powerful empire. He had once firmly believed that he could control everything and ensure the eternal prosperity of the empire. However, now he felt powerless and unable to cope with the sudden and thorny problems.

He was filled with helplessness and frustration, and began to doubt his own abilities. He wondered if he had really grown old. Was his empire destined to decline amidst these crises?

The First Emperor clenched his fists and secretly vowed in his heart that he must find a solution to the problem and protect his empire.